Commonwealth Consolidated Acts

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA ACT 1976 - SECT 7

  (1)   Whenever:

  (a)   the Chief Justice is absent from Australia or from duty; or

  (b)   there is a vacancy in the office of Chief Justice;

the next senior Judge who is in Australia and is able and willing to do so shall perform the duties, and may exercise the powers, of the Chief Justice.

  (2)   For the purposes of this Act, a person who is performing duties and exercising powers under subsection   (1) is taken not to be assigned to either Division of the Court.

Note:   A Judge (including the Chief Justice) who is not assigned to either Division of the Court may exercise the powers of the Court in either Division (see subsection   15(1C)).